August 2010

Emily Hall-LochmannVanBennekom, a residence director at Alfred State College, has been selected to serve as a regional member of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Of The Month Voting Committee. In this capacity she will help select the winning Of The Month Awards from around the Northeast Region (NEACURH).

This is the first time a member of the Alfred State community has been selected to this committee; she will serve for the 2010-11 academic year.

Announcement was made by Raymond FeDora, associate director of NRHH, 2009-10 Northeast Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls.

The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is a non-academic honor society consisting of the top 1% of student leaders. It awards “Of The Month” honors to members of the organization for accomplishments and successes within a given month. All students, faculty, and staff have the opportunity to submit a nomination for OTM every month.

Campus OTMs also have an opportunity to be selected for submission to the Regional Level. The NRHH of Alfred State is a part of the NEACURH (North East Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls) Region.

NRHH is a national organization; Alfred State College is an affiliate college.

Hall-LochmannVanBennekom joined the ASC professional staff in 2009; she is responsible for supervising and upholding college regulations and policies. She also serves as a liaison between students and faculty and administration; selects, trains, and supervises student staff; and is responsible for individual and group counseling within the residence hall.

Prior to joining the ASC staff, Hall-LochmannVanBennekom served as an elementary school counselor at Wayland-Cohocton and as a resident director at Alfred University.

Hall-LochmannVanBennekom holds an MS in education with school counseling, from Alfred University; a BS in human development from Binghamton University; and an AS in human services from Alfred State College (2004).

The Dansville Senior High School graduate is the daughter of Shann Hall and Christopher LochmannVanBennekom.

Alfred State College has announced that it has closed admissions for fall 2010, meaning that no additional applications will be considered for the upcoming semester. The College anticipates its largest enrollment in decades with many programs already on waiting lists. The growth is attributed to the fact that Alfred State College is an excellent value with quality programs and graduates enjoy a placement and transfer rate of 99 percent. According to College President Dr. John M. Anderson, the College made this decision because of the on-going reduction of State support as well as the failure of the New York State Legislature to pass the Public Higher Education Empowerment and Innovation Act (PHEEIA).

“After receiving significant state budget cuts in recent years and failing to obtain the flexibility through PHEEIA that would allow us to control our growing enrollment, we felt the prudent move would be to manage our current growth and evaluate our options for next fall once the financial picture is clearer.”

Anderson also stated that the College has implemented a number of efficiencies over the last two years which have allowed it to offer enrollment to hundreds of additional students without receiving added State funds. However, without the flexibility that PHEEIA would have provided, closing admissions and other measures will become increasingly necessary.

“The good news,” Anderson says, “is that interest in our academic programs continues to be strong, our graduates are in high demand, and our students are ready to “Hit the Ground Running” as they kick off the new school year.”

Alfred State College’s reputation continues to grow as proven by its ranking this year in U.S. News and World Report’s 2011 Best Colleges report. Alfred State College is ranked 27th among the top regional colleges in the North, ranked 8th among the top public schools (regional colleges in the North), and was included in the rankings of those colleges with the highest average freshman retention rate, coming in at 66.5 percent. These figures represent a gain over last year’s rankings!

The exclusive rankings, which include rankings of more than 1,400 schools nationwide, has grown to be the most comprehensive research tool for students and parents considering higher education opportunities.

"Alfred State College is pleased and proud to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report,” said Dr. John M. Anderson, Alfred State College president. “The results of these measures are proof that Alfred State is one of the finest institutions of its kind in the nation and that the college’s strategic plan works!”

Additionally, Anderson noted, “The fact that one of the measures used in the rankings includes assessment by administrators at peer institutions indicates to me that we enjoy the respect of our colleagues, and that’s a great feeling. Other measures used in the rankings include retention of students, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, and alumni giving. Our faculty and staff continue to work hard to maintain the margin of excellence of which we’ve been justifiably proud for over 100 years.”

Anderson also attributes this ranking to a number of positive initiatives taking place on campus, including the establishment of an Institute for Sustainability, the development of specialized baccalaureate degree programs such as study abroad program; and plans for a new student center whose architect, William Rawn Associates, has been named the top architectural firm in the nation according to Architect Magazine, to name just a few.

State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher also expressed her pride and extended her congratulations to the many SUNY institutions appearing on this year’s listing: “SUNY campuses across New York State continue to be ranked favorably by nationwide publications and recognized for their outstanding quality, accessibility, and unsurpassed value.

“Today’s release of the 2011 Best Colleges Rankings by U.S. News and World Report includes many highlights from SUNY campuses.

“SUNY dominates the list of Best Regional Universities in the North, while three SUNY schools are among the Top 50 Public National Universities.

“Congratulations to the campus presidents, faculty, staff, and students who are responsible for SUNY's consistent placement among these prominent rankings.”

The U.S. News & World Report rankings provide an excellent starting point for prospective students and their families in the complex process of determining which institution best fits their goals. The rankings supply hard data and analysis to help college applications make apples-to-apples comparisons of schools across the country.

U.S. News has made some changes to the 2011 Best Colleges’ ranking methodology and presentation. This year, schools are designated National Universities, National Liberal Arts Colleges, Regional Universities, and Regional Colleges. The numerical rank of the top 75 percent of schools in each category is displayed, up from 50 percent. Graduation rate performance is more heavily weighted, and now accounts for 7.5 percent of the final score (compared to 5 percent previously) for the national universities and national liberal arts colleges categories only.

Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and for national universities and liberal art colleges graduation rate performance and high school counselor ratings of colleges.

Alfred State College, a member of the technology college sector within the State University of New York (SUNY) system, offers outstanding educational opportunities for students in its 52 associate degree programs, 18 baccalaureate degree programs, and three certificate programs. ASC continues to expand its court and realtime reporting). Numerous vocational-technical offerings stressing hands-on learning are available at the School of Applied Technology Campus located in nearby Wellsville, NY. The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and several programs are also accredited or approved by program-specific professional organizations. While stressing technical education, the College continues to pride itself on maintaining close personal ties among students and faculty. Academic programs, residential facilities, and co-curricular activities are provided to meet the educational, cultural, social, and recreational needs of students. Alfred State's reputation for excellence attracts students and faculty from throughout New York, neighboring states, and several foreign countries. The College is located in Alfred, NY, a scenic village in Allegany County. It is 15 miles north of the Pennsylvania border, 70 miles south of Rochester, and 90 miles southeast of Buffalo.

Moving-in day at Alfred State College saw hundreds of families hauling their students’ belongings to campus to begin the new academic year. Instead of the traditional linens and clothing packed in a tidy footlocker, students these days need trucks and trailers to transport today’s college necessities, including computers, refrigerators, and the myriad electronic gadgets that make life “bearable.” Pictured here, a student “muscles” his belongings up a low rise and into the residence hall on a warm August afternoon.

In a departure from traditional opening remarks, Alfred State College President Dr. John M. Anderson this year kicked off the fall semester by sharing his vision of the future with assembled faculty and staff.

Reiterating the theme of small college, big dreams, Anderson envisioned, among other things, the following for the College: a continued rise in the US News and World Report rankings; continuing increased demand for its programs; expansion of ASC’s study abroad programming; increased national and global recognition through student participation in national competitions, hosting national and international symposia on campus, and impactful civic service, not only in the United States, but in other countries as well; and some major infrastructure additions to both campuses.

“After all,” Anderson noted, “imagination is the first step to reality!”

Other “business” conducted at the event included the introduction of new faculty and staff as well as the presentation of the President’s “Innovation Award” to Craig Clark, dean, School of Applied Technology, and executive director, Wellsville campus. Clark was cited for his quiet demeanor which belies his ability to “get the job done,” including securing millions of dollars in funding for the college.

Clark has been associated with Alfred State College since 1979, serving in a variety of teaching and administrative capacities, including professor and department chair, Civil Engineering Technology, as well as interim vice president for academic affairs.

Since 1996, Clark has served as dean of the School of Applied Technology in Wellsville, where he oversees the college's satellite campus with an annual budget of over $3 million with 65 faculty and staff. Clark also works closely with the Educational Foundation that owns the campus.

Clark holds a master of science degree in civil engineering with a major in construction engineering and management from North Carolina State University, a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado, and an associate of science degree in engineering science from Jamestown Community College. He has completed course work at Carnegie-Mellon University, College Management Program, Heinz School of Public Policy and Management. He is a candidate for the PhD in civil engineering with North Carolina State University.

Clark is a member of the American Society for Engineering Education, the American Concrete Institute, the Association for Career and Technical Education, and SkillsUSA. He serves as New York State director for Postsecondary SkillsUSA and is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York State.

Cornell University's 16th Annual Buckwheat Field Day will be held at Alfred State College, on Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 1-4 p.m.

Thomas Björkman, associate professor of vegetable crop physiology at Cornell, has organized the event for the last 15 years. The event is hosted by Dr. Brian Baker, director of the Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture (COSA) at Alfred State College.

The top buckwheat-growing region in the 19th century was Northern Pennsylvania and southern New York. While other crops are now more common, the tradition of raising buckwheat here continues. There are about 20,000 acres in production, but many growers plant only a few acres of buckwheat. The crop's advantages include a short growing season - it isn't planted until July - and low cost. There is an opportunity to increase production because the demand for buckwheat far exceeds supply.

Most of the buckwheat grown in the Twin Tiers is sold to Birkett Mills in Penn Yan and ends up in Wolff's Kasha, a traditional grain food from Eastern Europe that is sold in supermarkets nationwide. It is also in buckwheat flour and pancake mixes, as well as handmade soba noodles at New York City restaurants.

The field day is designed to help keep growers up to date on production. Since the markets for buckwheat are global, those who produce it need to use the most competitive methods. In-field demonstrations will illustrate best management techniques for buckwheat grain production, as well as some practices to avoid and their consequences.

The second goal of the field day is for buckwheat growers to meet each other. The network of expertise that existed in the past has eroded, which means that maintaining professional contacts takes more work.

"The Southern Tier and northern Pennsylvania areas have been centers of buckwheat production for centuries," Bjorkman said. "There are still many expert farmers in the area. I look forward to meeting some of them at the field day."

Angela Possinger of Roger Williams University in Rhode Island will share her research on what can and cannot be expected from buckwheat mineralizing phosphorus. That quality has been well known but it has been difficult to use effectively.

An addition to the program for 2010 is a demonstration of summer cover crops. Buckwheat is commonly used as a soil-building, weed-suppressing cover crop, but it is not the only choice. Nationally known cover crop consultant Dr. Elizabeth Dyck will demonstrate some of the other choices, such as sorghum-sudangrass, Japanese millet, phacelia, and crotalaria. She will also describe her efforts to help small growers produce and market organic buckwheat seed for cover crop use. Cover-crop seed production is a farm enterprise that can add several useful pieces to the agricultural economies of rural communities.

All growers who are currently growing buckwheat or who are considering its cultivation are welcome to attend this field day. It is at the COSA research farm on Sugar Hill Rd. in Alfred. Turn north of N. Main St. just west of the cemetery. Pre-registration is not required and there is no charge.

Alfred State College will host two visitors from Italy on Friday, Aug. 27. Archeology Professor Ilaria Tartaglia and her colleague Maria Chiara Giovenco will tour campus in the morning, and at 1 p.m. Tartaglia will give a presentation in the Engineering Building, room 215.

Her talk will focus on the work that she and Giovenco do as staff archaeologists at the excavations of Pompeii. Additionally, she will discuss the course she teaches to Alfred State’s study abroad students at Sorrento Lingue International Language Institute where she serves as an adjunct professor. The course, "Cities of Fire," which focuses on the rich heritage of Roman antiquities in the Sorrento area, is very popular with students because of frequent class field trips to the numerous archaeological and geological sites around the Gulf of Naples.

This presentation, and the subsequent reception, is open to the public free of charge. The reception will be held from 3-5 p.m. in the Allegany Room of the Central Dining Hall.

In his remarks, Barwick told a story about a situation in his past that paralleled one his father had faced some 10 years prior to that. His father, it seems, held to his principles, losing his job by refusing to falsify a report. Barwick, faced with a similar situation as a young adult, buckled under the pressure from his supervisors and compromised his principles to keep a job.

The difference, he says, is “20 years later, I regret my decision every day; 30 years later, my father does not regret his. One of the hardest things you can do is to stay true to yourself, but it is also the most important thing you can do for yourself.”

LaMere, taking the podium for his second new student convocation, began by congratulating the assembled freshmen on their choice of colleges.

He went on to recount the local, regional, and global disasters that made headlines last year, as well as the efforts made by Alfred State students, faculty, and staff to alleviate the suffering through commitments of time, energy, talent, and money.

“The satisfaction we feel when we are able to successfully help one another, despite the effort it might have taken, encourages us to do more. Unfortunately, the effort, time, and commitment often seem to be in short supply. So I challenge the students here today to take advantage of the time we have here, not only to succeed academically, but to succeed as humanitarians. This year you are going to be asked again and again and again – What’s your passion. What makes you feel alive. And I want you to be able to name it and to share that passion with others around you!”

Lorow began by reminiscing about her years at Alfred State and how the experiences she enjoyed “inspired me and gave me the tools to help me find success after graduation.”

Although she was “planning on getting involved on campus, the idea of jumping in from day one hadn’t occurred to me.”

Encouraged by her adviser to apply as a writing tutor, Lorow says, “I ended up loving the job. It felt rewarding to see the proverbial light bulb flash as the students gained understanding. The experience helped to reconfirm that I wanted to become a teacher. From there, I sought more experiences in my field by writing pieces for the financial aid.

“During all four semesters, I participated in the International Club which welcomed people of all countries to come together to get to know each other. It was fun exchanging stories and seeing my culture through their eyes. All of these extracurricular activities were not only fun but also complemented many of the communication skills that I would later need as an educator.

After graduation, Lorow “transferred to an undergraduate program at Binghamton University. Soon after transferring, I gained a strong appreciation for Alfred State’s sense of community. Binghamton demonstrates its own unique charm, but with class sizes sometimes boasting 150 to 200 students, I felt like a number in the crowd. It wasn’t easy, but a lot of my success at Binghamton stemmed from opportunities that were first granted in Alfred.”

Thanks to ASC’s “smaller class sizes, I was able to receive extra attention in classes that had a history of being challenging for me, like math and science. I was also able to get a solid understanding for what a research paper should be like. The extracurriculars at Alfred played a major role in giving me an edge for teaching positions and internships. For example, my experience in the International Club coupled with tutoring skills learned in the writing center, helped me land an awesome job as a teaching assistant for an English as a Second Language classroom. I also interned at a local high school for an elective class called Cultural Exploration Program. These teaching and volunteer experiences were not only personally fulfilling but also helped me gain acceptance in to my graduate program where I am specializing in childhood education and literacy.

“My best advice is to enter Alfred with a spirit of adventure. Find clubs that interest you and explore all that Alfred has to offer. Be the best student that you can be. But still take time to be a part of Alfred traditions like Hot Dog Day. Talk to people in your residence halls. That’s how I met my fiancé!